Trump repeats accusation of ‘total fraud’ in Alaska Senate race

• President Trump again called the Alaska Senate race a “total fraud,” citing allegations that Democrats recruited a candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan.
• Trump accused the second Sullivan of participating in an alleged criminal scheme to confuse voters, as his administration steps up investigations into the claims.

President Donald Trump renewed his accusations of fraud in Alaska’s Senate race, calling the contest a “total fraud” during a phone interview with Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”

Trump cited a report published last week by The New York Times, which alleged that Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Party helped recruit a candidate with a name similar to that of Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The report said the effort was intended to confuse voters and divert support from the incumbent, potentially improving Peltola’s chances of winning the closely watched Senate race.

Trump said the second Sullivan had agreed to participate in what he described as an illegal scheme.

“He agreed to participate absolutely illegally,” Trump said, adding, “It was a criminal act.”

The president also claimed that another individual with no political background had entered the race, suggesting that the ballot included candidates recruited to influence the outcome.

The Trump administration has recently intensified investigations into the allegations, including examining whether the second Sullivan was recruited to confuse voters because of his name.

The controversy centers on two candidates with similar names: Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Daniel J. Sullivan, an independent candidate.

The New York Times report alleged that operatives connected to Peltola’s campaign and Democratic Party officials worked to recruit candidates whose presence could weaken support for the incumbent.

Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement in recruiting the second Sullivan. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has also denied involvement in his candidacy.

The allegations have prompted federal and state investigations into whether the recruitment effort violated election laws.

The dispute has intensified ahead of the November 3 election, with the Alaska Senate race emerging as a closely watched contest that could influence control of the US Senate.